With the introduction of a maximum gas limit per transaction set at 16,777,216 gas, the Ethereum network aims to strengthen its stability, security, and predictability in transaction costs.
This modification, proposed by Vitalik Buterin to be applied at the protocol level, directly affects everyone who interacts with the blockchain, from dApps to end users, as well as involving emerging technologies like zkVMs.
Why the gas limit is crucial for Ethereum
The gas on Ethereum represents the unit of measurement for the computational work required to process transactions and execute smart contracts. Until today, a single transaction could theoretically consume all the gas available in a block. This approach, however, exposes the network to various risks.
Inefficient load balancing: a high gas consumption transaction can saturate the block, penalizing fair transaction inclusion mechanisms.
Attacchi DoS: huge transactions facilitate attacks that congest the network (Denial of Service), compromising efficiency and security.
zkVM Compatibility: blocking large amounts of computations in a single transaction hinders the efficiency of zero-knowledge virtual machine mechanisms, which are fundamental for future scalability evolutions.
Parallel execution: a single transaction that uses the majority of the gas can prevent advantages from parallel execution and load splitting.
Setting a maximum gas limit therefore represents a direct response to these issues and marks a turning point towards a more homogeneous management of the network’s resources.
Technical specifications of the new gas limit per transaction
Detailed cap parameters
The limit is set at 16,777,216 gas, equivalent to 2^24. This cap is applied to each individual transaction independently, without restricting the flexibility of miners or validators in configuring the gas limit per block. In practice, any transaction that specifies a gasLimit above this threshold will be automatically rejected by the protocol with an appropriate error code.
Implications for EVM and transaction flow
Validation of the txpool: at the time of verification, if the gasLimit exceeds the threshold, the transaction is invalidated and does not enter the transaction pool.
Block validation: in the event that a block contains a transaction with a higher gasLimit, that block is declared invalid and discarded.
This ensures that no transaction can compromise the predictability and security of the protocol through excessive resource consumption.
“`html Reasons behind the choice of the value 16,777,216 gas “`
The value of 16,777,216 gas has been precisely selected to balance different needs. On one hand, it still allows for the execution of complex operations such as the deployment of new contracts or advanced actions in DeFi. On the other hand, it establishes a threshold that is easily manageable for both developers and the ecosystem of distributed applications.
This limit does not restrict modern use cases but, on the contrary, promotes a more equitable distribution of the processing load within the blocks, offering more consistent performance over time.
Compatibility and retroactivity of the gas limit
Impact on existing transactions and dApps
The new gas cap per transaction is not backward compatible with operations that currently require more than 16.77 million gas. However, according to estimates gathered from the analysis of on-chain activities, the vast majority of today’s Ethereum transactions fall well below this value.
The few exceptions will be forced to split the operations into smaller transactions, a division that can be managed at the dApp or wallet level. The overall impact on the user base and developers is therefore limited.
Increase in security and DoS mitigation
With the new maximum for gas, the risk of DoS attacks based on single oversize transactions is drastically reduced. Block validation thus becomes more regular and predictable, keeping the processing time constant and further decentralizing security among the network validators.
Benefits for zkVM and parallelization
A key aspect of the proposal concerns the optimization for zkVM (zero-knowledge virtual machines). Dividing large transactions into smaller blocks facilitates the design of distributed verification systems that are much more efficient, simplifying the work for both zero-knowledge validation and parallel execution of operations.
It follows that Ethereum is better positioned to face future challenges in terms of scalability and technological advancement, while maintaining operational robustness for the current and evolving needs of the bull and bear sector.
Considerations on the resilience and sustainability of Ethereum
The transition to a gas cap not only improves the resilience of the network against attacks and imbalances, but also strengthens long-term sustainability. By curbing excessive resource consumption in individual transactions, Ethereum offers greater predictability in costs and performance, facilitating the planning and adoption of new decentralized applications.
Prospects and opportunities for the Ethereum community
The new maximum gas limit per transaction represents a further step in the maturation of Ethereum towards a more secure and efficient blockchain. Developers and companies are called to update tools and smart contracts to comply with the new threshold, but they will find a more stable and competitive environment, also in view of the integration with zk technologies and the growth of DeFi.
The implementation of this proposal provides the network with an effective shield against abuse and congestion, while simultaneously promoting transparency and fairness in resource management. It remains important to monitor the long-term effects, continuing to promote updates that combine innovation, security, and inclusivity.
